Islamabad, September 7, 2026: A three-day intensive training programme on sustainable water governance and water security began at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat on Monday, bringing together policymakers, water experts, researchers and development practitioners to address growing water scarcity and climate-related pressures across OIC member states.
The programme is being organised under the umbrella of the OIC General Secretariat and OIC-COMSTECH in collaboration with the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) and the Hisaar Foundation.
The training focuses on integrated water resource management, climate-smart irrigation, transboundary groundwater governance, pollution control, digital technologies, data-driven decision-making, innovative financing and partnerships aimed at strengthening water security across the OIC region.
Addressing the opening session, OIC Assistant Secretary General for Science and Technology Ambassador Aftab Ahmad Khokar described the initiative as timely, noting that a significant number of OIC countries were increasingly exposed to water insecurity, climate change, environmental degradation and mounting pressure on natural resources.
He said the recommendations emerging from the expert discussions could help develop practical approaches for greater cooperation among OIC member states. He also reaffirmed the OIC General Secretariat’s support for knowledge-sharing and technical collaboration to address common water challenges.
SESRIC Director General Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk said water stress had become one of the most pressing development challenges facing the Islamic world.
Citing the OIC Water Report 2025, she said 16 OIC member states were currently experiencing critical levels of water stress. The situation could become more severe, with projections indicating that by 2050, 17 OIC countries could face extremely high water stress and another 10 high water stress.
She stressed the need for urgent and coordinated action, including more efficient water use, data-driven policymaking, technological innovation and stronger cooperation among member states.
OIC-COMSTECH Coordinator General Prof Dr M. Iqbal Choudhary said water security was now inseparably linked with food security, public health, agriculture, climate resilience and sustainable economic development.
He said scientific cooperation among OIC countries needed to move beyond dialogue towards the sharing of technologies, expertise, data and practical solutions.
Greater use of artificial intelligence, remote sensing and digital water-management systems, combined with evidence-based planning, could help countries manage increasingly constrained water resources more effectively, he added.
Prof Choudhary said COMSTECH would continue bringing together scientists, policymakers, universities and international development institutions to develop practical responses to water and climate challenges, particularly those requiring regional and cross-border cooperation.
During the three-day programme, experts will examine water governance practices in South Asia and other regions, climate-smart irrigation technologies and approaches to managing shared groundwater resources, including lessons from the Senegal-Mauritanian Aquifer Basin.
The sessions will also explore industrial pollution and climate change impacts on surface and groundwater, community participation in water governance, citizen science and the integration of local knowledge into public policymaking.
A dedicated segment on data-driven water management will examine simulation modelling, geographic information systems, remote sensing, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things applications. Experts will also discuss SESRIC water dashboards and UNESCO water-data platforms for planning, monitoring and strengthening climate resilience.
The final day will focus on effective water policies and projects, financing mechanisms, public-private partnerships and innovative models to improve access to safe drinking water, particularly in African OIC member states.
Representatives and experts from the Islamic Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, African Water Facility, International Water Management Institute, UNESCO, SESRIC and other national and international organisations are expected to contribute to the technical sessions.
The programme will conclude with discussions on developing a strategic water cooperation roadmap for OIC member states, with recommendations covering technical cooperation, water financing, transboundary resource management and stronger institutional partnerships.
Certificates will be awarded to participants at the conclusion of the training programme on Wednesday.
